York Potash is supporting local people
Re the proposed establishment of a construction workforce village on Stainsacre Lane, Whitby, for the York Potash Project.
As Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Planning at Scarborough Borough Council I feel it necessary that readers have the full facts in relation to this very important development.
York Potash Limited estimate that there will be in excess of 2,500 personnel required during construction of the mine and 1,000 people directly employed at the mine when operational.
Undoubtedly, due to the specialist nature of mine construction there will be the need to bring in a number of personnel from outside of the borough with the prerequisite specialist skills. These personnel will require accommodating, whether within a construction workers village or within local housing and holiday accommodation has yet to be determined.
Scarborough Borough Council has been working closely with the York Potash Team to ensure we maximise local content within the scheme should it proceed. Any suggestion that the majority of personnel employed during construction will be cheap labour from Eastern Europe and paid below minimum wage is completely without foundation or merit.
For clarity the phrase “in migrant worker” referred to by York Potash simply refers to anyone residing outside of the 60 minutes travel time to the construction site, a fact which I feel has been taken out of context by some observers. There will be a large number of local employment opportunities arising as a result of construction of the mine and contractors bidding for work at the development are required to set out how they will use local labour as part of their tender returns.
Contractors working on the York Potash project will also be required to identify how they will work with the local suppliers to provide York Potash with the goods and services they need, increasing local employment and benefit.
The Council, along with local schools, colleges and train- ing providers, has worked with the York Potash Team to develop their skills and local supplier strategies and the company is already committed to local recruitment.
To date York Potash have undertaken to:
Provide funding to increase awareness of science related careers in schools.
Provide funding for Councils and local agencies to prepare local people for the job opportunities.
Create 50 apprenticeship opportunities over five years and have given a commitment to maintaining an ongoing apprenticeship programme along with provide training for 300 people in preparation for mining operations.
Support 15 people through the York Potash Undergraduate Programme.
York Potash currently operates by employing five apprentices, supporting four people through university and recently employed two local graduates, and the majority of their staff from the local area.
In closing, having worked closely with York Potash Limited in developing their commitment to local content has left me with little doubt that there will be significant local employment opportunities arising from the project if and when it proceeds. It is up to us all, elected Members and people of the borough to make the most of this opportunity. Cllr Derek Bastiman , Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Planning Scarborough Council